When you step onto the streets of Montreal, you never know what to expect. There could be artisans sporting their wares, performers showing their talents or just friendly passers-by, but one thing is for certain, this beautiful city on the coast of the St. Lawrence River is just asking to be explored. 

Built at the site of what was originally named Ville-Marie in the 17th century, Old Montreal grew rapidly to accommodate all of the people that were passing through. Today, Old Montreal stands as a monument to the old port town that has spawned such a place of beauty and culture as exists in Montreal today. 

Montreal celebrates its uniqueness and different lifestyles, cultures and interests in the form of festivals. During the summer, festivals take place almost every weekend. Some are French, some English and some bilingual, but all are filled with a richness that can be appreciated by anyone willing to take part.

Some festivals are big, like the Montreal Chamber Music Festival that takes place during May or the Montreal International Jazz Festival that takes place at the end of June and runs into early July.

One of the biggest festivals that takes place happens in July; the Just for Laughs comedy festival. Filling the entire month of July, comedians and tourists flock to the city for a well-deserved laugh. It all comes together in the middle of the festival. From July 13 on, people take to the streets to take part in the street fair, where performers entertain with colourful displays and special skills like juggling or fire eating.

Another big festival is the Montreal World Film Festival, running Aug. 18-28 this year. One of the biggest in Canada, it is going into its 35th year. The film festival, which focuses on both international and domestic movies, draws throngs of noteworthy people to the city to watch great shows and maybe pick up a prize or two along the way. Many of the movies in the main categories this year come from places such as Japan, Germany, Sweden, Italy, France and Canada just to name a few. It's a great place to grab some popcorn and sit back for a good show.

If live entertainment is more your style, the city has a bustling theatre life outside of the festivals and festival season. One of the big draws is one of Canada's iconic performance troupe, Cirque du Soliel. Cirque comes into town regularly and puts on shows of such grandeur that they dare not be missed. The colours and movements mix with the poignant, sometimes haunting music that fills their performances to create an experience that you feel to your core. Totem is the big summer show, starting at the end of July, but tickets must be bought well in advance, as these shows tend to sell out. Michael Jackson- Immortal will be starting Oct. 2. Dralion, Ovo and Quidam also have tour dates in the city, and can be found at www.cirquedusoliel.com.

Day time in the city has a lot to offer. Every trip to Montreal, no matter what the season, should include a visit to the Old Port in Old Montreal. Much like Quebec City, Montreal was built as a port town to transport furs and other goods back to the old world. Down by the old port is a series of trails by the quays. These paths are bordered by the St. Lawrence on one side and by Old Montreal on the other, making for a beautifully scenic place to take a stroll, bike, ski or any other form of transportation that you might be inclined to take.

Montreal is a beautiful city filled with events and entertainment at every turn. The Olympic stadium is a place to go and relish in one of the great events that took place on Canadian soil; the 1976 Olympics. The Montreal Casino is built inside the France and Quebec Pavilion from Expo '67. For those that like history, the Notre Dame Basilica is a great opportunity to visit a beautiful structure and learn a bit at the same time.

Shopping is also a great thing to do in Montreal. With the thousands of international boutiques and stores lining the streets, it's nearly impossible to visit them all, though it is worth a try. And if you do manage to tire yourself out aboveground, there is always the underground city to explore! The underground city is a network of tunnels that connect great shopping spots and contain a whole new variety of boutiques to explore, different from the ones aboveground.

No matter what your interest is, Montreal has a way for you to explore that interest and let it grow. Between the shops, the festivals, the history and the entertainment, there is never a dull moment in the city.